Government tells British nationals to get out of Russia ‘if your presence is not essential’ as Ukraine crisis ramps up
- British nationals told to consider leaving Russia in wake of Ukrainian invasion
- Government statement advised ‘non-essential’ citizens leave via normal flights
- UK earlier advised citizens against all travel to Russia due to economic situation
- Click here for the latest updates on the Ukraine crisis from MailOnline’s live blog
British nationals have been urged to consider leaving Russia in the wake of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
‘If your presence in Russia is not essential, we strongly advise that you consider leaving by remaining commercial routes,’ the Foreign Office said in a statement on Saturday.
Travellers or citizens currently in Russia were advised any direct flights back to the UK would be complicated by the fact Moscow banned UK airlines from flying in or out of the country on Friday, February 25.
Those aiming to leave Russia are instead advised to book a connecting flight through the Middle East or Turkey to then travel back to the UK.
On Monday, the government advised its citizens against all travel to Russia due to a lack of available flight options and increased economic volatility.
The statement read: ‘The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to the whole of Russia due to the lack of available flight options to return to the UK, and the increased volatility in the Russian economy.’
British nationals have been urged to consider leaving Russia in the wake of Vladimir Putin ‘s invasion of Ukraine. Pictured: A British Airways aircraft waits on the tarmac in Moscow’s Domodedovo airport
‘If your presence in Russia is not essential, we strongly advise that you consider leaving by remaining commercial routes,’ the British government said in a statement on Saturday.
As flight corridors over mainland Europe remained as busy as ever, the skies over Ukraine, Belarus and Russia were notably quiet or empty altogether on Saturday March 5
The Department of Transport announced it had barred Russian commercial and civilian aircraft from the UK skies following the invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, February 24.
The DfT issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) announcing its ban would affect all aircraft ‘owned, chartered or operated by a person connected with Russia’.
This encompasses commercial aircraft, such as those operated by Russian flag carrier Aeroflot – but also private planes used by oligarchs.
The Kremlin responded just a day later by banning UK flights to and over Russia in retaliation to a British ban on Aeroflot.
Russia’s aviation authority said: ‘A restriction was introduced on the use of Russian airspace for flights of aircrafts owned, leased or operated by an organisation linked to or registered in the UK.’
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Russian owned aircraft were banned from UK airspace from midnight until May 23, the Civil Aviation Authority has announced. Pictured: An Aeroflot plane pictured at Kazan International Airport
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